GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 12857

IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by section 44 (3) of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife publishes the Plan set out in the Schedule hereto— SCHEDULE The Mara Ripoi Conservancy Management Plan, 2025-2035 (hereinafter referred to as “the Plan”) outlines the goals, objectives, and actions that Mara Ripoi Conservancy (hereinafter referred to as “the Conservancy”) has designed to address ecological management, culture and livelihoods, carbon credit initiatives, tourism development, livestock management, partnerships and collaboration, monitoring and evaluation, communication and public engagement, capacity building and security management. The Conservancy’s vision, zonation scheme, management programmes and plan implementation strategy are presented in the following sections. 1. VISION The Mara Ripoi Conservancy strives to be A beacon of wildlife conservation and sustainable livelihoods. 2. LAND USES AND ZONES The plan sets out a zonation scheme to guide land use within the Conservancy. The zonation scheme primarily consists of two zones: Limited Use Zone and Free Use/Development Zone. 3. MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES The Plan comprises ten (10) management programmes that address the key issues affecting the Conservancy. These programmes are summarised in the following sections. 3.1 Ecological Management Programme The Ecological Management Programme aims to conserve and enhance the ecological integrity of the Conservancy while promoting sustainable use of natural resources. To achieve this aim, key management activities have been developed, they focus on: integrating climate change resilience strategies into conservation; promoting scientific research to better understand the ecology of the Conservancy; maintaining and expanding the existing wildlife migratory corridors; and implementing habitat restoration to reduce the spread of invasive species. 3.2 Culture and Livelihoods Programme The overall goal of the Culture and Livelihoods Programme is to harmonize traditional cultural practices with sustainable livelihoods, fostering a resilient and prosperous community that coexists with nature. The programme’s key management activities focus on collaborating with cultural institutions to support cultural and livelihood initiatives; engaging youth in cultural preservation activities through educational programs; improving access to quality education; and investing in cultural tourism programs. 3.3 Carbon Credit Programme The goal of this Programme is to leverage on the natural resources for climate mitigation while providing sustainable economic benefits to local communities. The programme aims to achieve this goal through the implementation of a set of activities that focus on: enhancing carbon sequestration by restoring degraded areas within the Conservancy; raising awareness about carbon credit among the local communities; and initiating and implementing programmes towards obtaining carbon credits certification. 3.4 Tourism Development and Management Programme The Tourism Development and Management Programme aims to establish sustainable and community-driven tourism that enhances conservation efforts while providing socio-economic benefits to local communities. The programme’s key activities focus on creating educational materials, exhibits and outreach programs about the Conservancy; developing low-impact tourism experiences for the benefit of wildlife and community; creating marketing campaigns to promote the Conservancy as a wildlife tourism destination; and enhancing visitor experience by improving facilities and infrastructure. 3.5 Livestock Management Programme The overall goal of the Livestock Management Programme is to integrate sustainable livestock practices with biodiversity conservation to support the livelihoods of local communities while maintaining the ecological integrity of the Conservancy. The programme seeks to achieve this by developing and implementing strategies to mitigate conflicts between livestock and wildlife; encouraging the communities to adopt sustainable livestock management practices; supporting research on livestock management to generate knowledge on best practices; and developing a comprehensive grazing plan. 3.6 Security Programme The purpose of the Security Programme is to safeguard the Conservancy’s biodiversity, resources and local communities. The programme’s key activities focus on: collaborating with neighbouring conservancies to address poaching threats; strengthening anti-poaching efforts, ranger patrols and improved intelligence gathering; providing training programs for rangers on effective patrol and conflict resolution; and investing in technology to improve surveillance and response. 3.7 Partnership and Collaboration Programme The Partnership and Collaboration Programme aims to promote strategic alliances that enhance the Conservancy’s conservation and community development goals. The programme’s activities focus on: engaging with the private sector/tourism operators for sustainable tourism initiatives; developing conflict resolution mechanisms to address conflicts among stakeholders; collaborating with other conservancies for joint conservation efforts; and fostering partnerships with research institutions to support wildlife research. 3.8 Monitoring and Evaluation Programme The purpose of the Monitoring and Evaluation Programme is to assess impacts and ensure adaptive management across all conservation and community initiatives. The programme seeks to achieve this purpose through the implementation of a series of activities that prioritize conducting regular wildlife surveys to monitor progress towards conservation goals; engaging local communities in participatory monitoring programs; and establishing robust data management systems on wildlife. 3.9 Communication and Public Engagement Programme The goal of the Communication and Public Engagement Programme is to promote awareness, build trust, and encourage active participation among stakeholders in conservation and development initiatives. The programme aims to achieve this goal through the implementation of a set of activities that focus on: strengthening the Conservancy’s digital and social media presence; 12th September, 2025 THE KENYA GAZETTE organizing community meetings and events to foster dialogue and participation; evaluating the impact of public engagement through regular feedback analysis; and conducting awareness campaigns on conservation, culture and tourism. 3.10 Capacity Building Programme The Capacity Building Programme aims to empower local communities, staff and stakeholders with the knowledge, skills and resources necessary to effectively contribute to the sustainable management of the conservancy. The programme’s key activities focus on collaborating with educational institutions to offer conservation-focused internships; establishing mentorship programs to facilitate knowledge transfer; developing and implementing staff training programs on biodiversity; and strengthening monitoring and evaluation capacity through targeted trainings. 4. PLAN IMPLEMENTATION, MONITORING, AND EVALUATION The Plan provides a monitoring and evaluation framework to track progress and assess the effectiveness of the plan’s goals. Annual compliance reports will be prepared and presented at the Conservancy Board Annual General meeting. To ensure precise progress tracking, quantifiable Key Performance Indicators will be established for each goal outlined in the management plan. The Plan is deposited at the offices of the Director General, Kenya Wildlife Service, along Langata Road, and the Manager, Mara Ripoi Conservancy, whose addresses are provided below: The Director-General, Kenya Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 40241–00100, Nairobi. Tel: (254) 020 6000800/6002345 Email: kws@kws.go.ke The Manager, Mara Ripoi Conservancy, P.O. Box 817–20500, Narok. Tel: +254 706 473 459 E-mail: letuyabarta@gmail.com Dated the 8th August, 2025. REBECCA MIANO, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife.